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GETTING TO NEW ZEALAND
Because New Zealand is an island nation, for all intents and purposes flying is the only to get there. Some cruise ships dock on New Zealand. Most also stop at destinations on the South Pacific. There are no regular ferries between New Zealand and Australia or the nearest Pacific islands.
BY AIR: The flying time from New York to Auckland is at least 18 hours, with a on or two hour layover in a United States West Coast city such as Los Angeles or San Francisco. From Auckland to Los Angeles the flying time is about 12 hours. Flights going the other direction are about 1½ to 2 hours longer. Many of flights across the Pacific are non-stop; it is no longer necessary to stop in Hawaii or another Pacific island.
National Carrier: Air New Zealand has a commercial alliance with airlines in Australia. Their air network serves 90 destinations within Australia, 28 within New Zealand and 31 outside of Australia and New Zealand. Air New Zealand is also part of the Star Alliance along with United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways and Varig Brazilian Airlines. Major Cities with Connections to New Zealand: Most major North American, Asian and European cities have flights to New Zealand. They are rarely non-stop.
High and Low Season : Prices for plane tickets usually vary with the season and remember that the seasons in New Zealand are opposite those in the United States. The High Season is generally from December to February; the Shoulder Season is March and August through November; and the Low Season is from April through July. Prices can vary as much as US$400 or $500 between the seasons. For example a ticket from New York to Auckland may cost about US$900 in the Low Season and US$1300 in the High Season.
Airport : Most international flight come into Auckland International Airport which is 13 miles from downtown Auckland in the suburb of Mangere (pronounced Man-garay). It has one international terminal and two domestic terminals, which are connected by a shuttle service. Some international flights come into Christchurch and Wellington. Other cities only have domestic airports.
Most airports have showers, luggage storage, nurseries, first aid stations, tourist information booths, hotel information booths, shops, food outlets, bars, luggage trolleys, a lost and found, and currency exchange banks. Hotel and motel courtesy phones are located in the welcoming halls of the both international and domestic airports.
Visitors Information Centers are located inside each airport terminal. Here you can make hotel reservations and get sightseeing, flight, and transportation information. Transfers from international terminals to domestic flights can be made at the Interline Desk on the main floor of the International Terminal.
Airport to City Transportation: Ground transportation arrangements can be made at the Visitors Information Centers located inside each terminal. Buses operate every 30 minutes to downtown hotels.. Airport shuttle vans are available.
GETTING AROUND WITHIN CITIES
Most New Zealand cities are small enough that you can get around everywhere on foot. They are also usually low key enough that you can also get around on a rented bicycle.
Taxis operate from taxi stands in each city or on-call by telephone 24 hours a day (there is often a charge for this). They are not generally hailed from the streets. Most cities have metered taxis. Taxis is towns usually charge a flat fee for specific destinations. The price goes up in the late evening, generally around 11:00pm. New Zealand taxi drivers don't expect to be tipped unless they carry luggage.
Commuter Buses and Trains operate on scheduled routes in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and some other cities. People with their own transportation generally take the buses, which are similar to those in the United States and Europe. They are fairly cheap and frequent. The fares are based on distance or the number of sections traveled through. Local tourist offices and/or newsstands are likely to have maps that show the bus routes. Sometimes cheap single- and multi-day tickets are available. Ask about them. Subways and Trams are not used in New Zealand's cities. Wellington has some cable cars.
GETTING AROUND BETWEEN CITIES AND TOWNS
Distances between major destinations are relatively short and the scenery is so beautiful so most travelers in New Zealand get around by train, bus or rent a car. Buses and trains cost about the same. The train system is good and trains are preferable to buses except they don't serve as many destinations. The Inter-Island Ferry connects the North Island and the South Island. Planes are mainly used by people who are in a hurry.
People renting cars have to get used to driving on the left. The cities can be confusing and dangerous but the roads in the countryside are usually easy enough to handle as long as you keep your attention focused.
Intercity Travel Pass allow you travel anywhere in New Zealand by air, bus, train or ferry. The fares are 30 percent cheaper for children. The pass has to be purchased prior to arrival in New Zealand.
Air Travel
The flights between the major cities and resort areas and are fairly reasonably priced. A one way fare, for example, on the one-hour flight between Auckland and Wellington is not so much. Reservations are advised, especially if you are traveling in the high season.
There are a number of charter airlines, small commuter airline (such as Air Nelson) and plane companies that specialize in flightseeing tours over glaciers and other scenic sights. There are flight tours. Charter flights average about US$600 an hour for a four-seat Piper or Cesna and US$1,000 for a six to eight seat plane.
Discount Domestic Air Tickets: Air New Zealand has discount fares and passes for foreign visitors. Most have to be purchased prior to arrival in New Zealand.
Trains
Trains connect most of the major cities in New Zealand. They are fast, reliable and comfortable. Night trains are available for travel to some destinations but try to travel in the day so you can enjoy New Zealand's beautiful countryside.
The passenger trains are all of similar type (they are not broken down into limited express, express or local trains) and they don't have classes (but sometimes sleepers are available).
The main trains on the North Island are 1) the daytime Overlander (10 hours and 426 miles between Auckland and Wellington); 2) the nighttime Northerner (10 hours and 426 miles between Auckland and Wellington); 3) the Kaimai Express (3¼ hours between Auckland and Tauranga); 4) the Geyserland Express (4 hours between Auckland and Rotorua); and 5) the Bay Express (5½ hours and 208 miles between Wellington and Napier);
The main trains on the South Island are 1) the nighttime Southerner Express (370 miles and 9¾ hours between Christchurch and Invercargill); 2) the daytime Southerner (370 miles and 9¾ hours between Christchurch and Invercargill); 3) the Coastal Pacific (217 miles and 5½ hours between Wellington (the Inter-Island Ferry) and Christchurch); and 4) the very scenic Tranz Alpine Express (9½ hours round trip between Christchurch and Greymouth).
Long distance trains have reclining seats. Some have dining facilities. Those that don't stops of 15 minutes at stations which allow passengers to run into a snack bar. There is an additional charge for sleeping berths, which must be paid by both rail ticket holders and rail pass holders.
The price of the tickets varies according distance and tickets are generally purchased from a ticket counter at the train stations or from an authorized travel. Most tickets have a ??? validity period and passengers can make as many stopovers as they want within the period validity. Children ride at a discount and other discount tickets are available.
New Zealand Rail Pass is the most economical way for foreign visitors to travel in New Zealand. Available to non-New Zealand tourists and non-resident New Zealand nationals, these passes are sold outside of New Zealand at authorized travel agents. They can not be bought inside New Zealand. The pass is purchased abroad as an Exchange order, which is converted into the actual pass after arrival in New Zealand.
Buses
Buses connect all the major cities and towns and most of the smaller ones. As a rule buses generally cost the same as trains and often traverse curvy roads. Some people complain that they make too many stops. Even so, New Zealand buses are usually more comfortable than the buses in the United States.
Many buses used for long-distance travel have reclining seats, provide refreshments, pillows and blankets, and have a toilet and air conditioning. Some run at night to avoid traffic, some operate in daytime, offering good views of countryside.
The cost of bus travel averages about US$1.00 or less per 10 miles. A one way ticket from Auckland to Wellington, for example is US$48. Christchurch to Queenstown is around US$46. Bus-train-ferry passes are available. The inexpensive, brightly-colored magic buses are designed for independent travelers who like to travel on impulse. Flying Kiwis is also geared for independent travelers.
Discount Bus Passes: are available.
Rental Vehicles
Cars, four-wheel drive vehicles, camper vans, motor homes, vans, motorcycles, and chauffeur driven cars can all be rented in New Zealand. The rental rates are generally comparable with those in Europe and the United States. Most rental companies operate out of the large cities, resorts and airports. Since rental vehicles are in high demand, you should try to book one in advance. To save yourself a hassle you may want to rent a car with an American car rental company that has offices in New Zealand.
Third party liability insurance is mandatory for all vehicles traveling in New Zealand. Before you make a reservation check with your auto insurance or credit card company about liability and accident coverage in an overseas rent-a-car. You may already be covered. Also, get a written confirmation from the rental company in the local currency, and inquire about additional costs, such as sales tax, airport surcharges, drop-off fees, mileage and theft insurance. When you return the car get a final bill; it is difficult to dispute charges once back in your home country.
Camper and Four Wheel Drive Rental is popular in New Zealand. Vehicles generally have two to six berths and are often outfit with gas cooking stoves, heater, refrigerator, running water, hot shower, pots, pans, dishes, utensils, linen, blankets and towels. They usually have automatic transmission and cost between US$150 a day for a two-berth model in the low season and US$200 a day for a six-berth model in the high season.
Roads and Driving
Road in New Zealand are generally two-lane, narrow and winding. New Zealand is a very mountainous country and getting to some destinations often is more trouble than you might think. The main roads are generally in good condition but off the beaten path the roads are often in rough shape. There aren't many limited access highways in New Zealand. The speed limit is 100 kilometer per hour in the cities and 50 kilometers per hour in towns. Areas with LSZ (limited Speed Zones) means you should drive carefully. The distances and speeds are measured in kilometers. For more information about routes and roads contact the New Zealand Automobile Association (NZAA).
Driving in New Zealand is not recommended in the cities but isn't too difficult in rural areas. Driving is on the Left Side of the Road (like Britain). Even though New Zealand drivers are generally pretty good and the driving laws in New Zealand are more or less the same as those in the U.S. (there are seatbelt laws), drive defensively anyway. Slow drivers are expected to pull over to shoulder of the road to let the faster traffic get by. Make sure to honk when you go around curves on narrow roads.
Also keep in mind that gasoline is much more expensive than in the United States, and make sure your car has a spare tire, jack, spare battery water, an extra fan belt and an emergency triangle. There are lots of mechanic, service stations and gas stations on the highways in New Zealand.
Driving on the Left Side takes some practice. People who are not used to it run the risk of forgetting which side of the road they are on and having a potentially-fatal head-on collision. They also 1) have trouble judging distance on the left side of the road; 2) have trouble with manual shifts which require use of the left hand rather than right hand; 3) confuse turn signal and windshield wiper signal, which are placed on opposite sides of the steering column. 4) and often enter the car through the passenger door by mistake.
In New Zealand, drivers have to be especially careful when driving through "roundabouts" (traffic circles), confusing alternatives to stop-light intersections that consist of a circle with curving entrances and exits. Another problem is that when they return home they have to get used to driving on the right side all over again.
Susan Pellowe, author of “Driving in Britain: Left Alive or Dead Right” makes the following suggestions: 1) Whenever you get into tough situation repeat to yourself over and over "Keep left! Keep left!;" 2) Get a car with automatic transmission so you don't have to adapt to shifting with the "wrong" hand; 3) practice looking up and to the left into the rear view mirror and down and to the right to the side-view mirror; and 4) before getting in a car for the first time sit behind a taxi driver or another driver to get used to the traffic patterns.
Off Road Driving: Four-wheel-drive tracks are generally bumpy and in poor condition. After heavy rains they often become impassable. Distances in the forest and mountains are deceptive. Traffic is slowed by ruts, potholes and animals, and it is not unusual for journey of a 100 miles to take four or five hours.
Off the beaten track, drivers have to deal with quagmires (during the rainy season), deep sand, deep ruts, big rocks, dust, steep hills, landslides, and washed out surfaces. Also watch out for deer, sheep and other animals which often run across the road without warning. In the mountains the roads are only wide enough for one car so be careful around blind turns (honk to let cars coming the opposite direction know you are coming). Make sure your car has a spare tire, jack, spare battery water, extra gasoline and water, an extra fan belt, a winch, wooden planks, an air pump, spare parts and tires, an ax, extra fuel and oil, a first aid kit, enough food and water to last an emergency, and an emergency triangle. Deflate your tire in the sand.
Driver's License: A U.S. driver license is acceptable and always carry your passport and your U.S. license with when you are driving. You may also want to get an international drivers license which can obtained at a AAA office for US$25. To get the license you will also need to bring two passport size photographs.
Hitchhiking apparently isn't too difficult. Many budget travelers find that it is a good way to get around New Zealand, meet people and save money. Many travelers who have traveled around New Zealand using this method have had a good time. Hitchhiking in New Zealand is generally less dangerous than in the United States.
Ferries and Boats
Ferries and Boats are a relaxing way to travel between the different islands and see New Zealand's wonderful maritime scenery. Ferries generally coastal towns and cities with offshore islands. A good way to get an idea of how these routes all interconnect is to purchase a good map which shows the ferry routes. Different companies service different routes.
Inter-Island Ferry is a regular three-hour service that connects Wellington on the North Island with Picton on the South Island. A one way adult fare is US$35, the vehicle rates starts at US$100. Reservations are advised if you are bringing a vehicle in the high season.
The ferries have bars, cafeteria, television room, shops and information booths. Discount fares are offered on roundtrip tickets used on weekdays. Flights between Wellington and Picton take 20 minutes.
Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons
Text Sources: National Geographic, Live Science, Natural History magazine, , New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Discover magazine, The Conversation, The New Yorker, Time, BBC, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Wikipedia, The Guardian, Top Secret Animal Attack Files website and various books and other publications.
Last updated September 2025